Canna plant named ‘Red Tiger’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Canna  plant named ‘Red Tiger’ that is characterized by its compact and mid-sized plant habit, its flowers that are bright scarlet in color, its striated (variegated) foliage with alternating striations of green and yellow and a thin yellow margin, its petioles that are green with a yellow margin with the apex of the petiole variable striped, and inflorescences with 12 to 20 flower buds and typically with 3 to 4 flowers that are open at one time.

Botanical classification: Canna x generalis.

Cultivar designation: ‘Red Tiger’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Canna x generalis known as ‘Red Tiger’, and is hereinafter referred to as ‘Red Tiger’. ‘Red Tiger’ is a new cultivar of Canna lily, which is grown as an annual or perennial depending on climate zone and for use in containers and in the landscape.

The new cultivar arose from an ongoing breeding program by the Inventor in Bangkok, Thailand with the goal of developing new cultivars of Canna with unique flower colors combined with yellow striated foliage.

The new cultivar was derived from a cross made by the Inventor in July of 2014 between unnamed and unpatented proprietary plants of Canna x generalis from the Inventor's breeding program as both the female and male parents. ‘Red Tiger’ was selected as a single unique plant from amongst the seedling that arose from the above cross in October of 2015.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first accomplished by rhizome division by the Inventor in Bangkok, Thailand in June of 2016. Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by rhizome division has shown that the unique characteristics of ‘Red Tiger’ are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR

The Applicant asserts that no publications or advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale, or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor. The Applicant claims a prior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the characteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combination distinguish ‘Red Tiger’ as a new and unique cultivar of Canna.

-   -   1. ‘Red Tiger’ exhibits a compact and mid-sized plant habit.     -   2. ‘Red Tiger’ exhibits flowers that are bright scarlet in         color.     -   3. ‘Red Tiger’ striated (variegated) foliage with alternating         striations of green and yellow and a thin yellow margin.     -   4. ‘Red Tiger’ exhibits petioles that are green with a yellow         margin with the apex of the petiole variable striped.     -   5. ‘Red Tiger’ exhibits inflorescences with 12 to 20 flower buds         and typically 3 to 4 flowers that are open at one time.

Both parents of ‘Red Tiger’ are similar to ‘Red Tiger’ in having compact and mid-sized plant habits and in having yellow and green striated foliage. The female plant of ‘Red Tiger’ differs from ‘Red Tiger’ in having flowers that are orange in color. The male plant of ‘Red Tiger’ differs from ‘Red Tiger’ in having flowers that are dull red in color. ‘Red Tiger’ can be most closely compared to the cultivars ‘Bengal Tiger’ and ‘Minerva’ (both unpatented). Both are similar to ‘Red Tiger’ in having yellow and green striated foliage. ‘Bengal Tiger’ differs from ‘Red Tiger’ in having a taller plant height and in having flowers that are orange in color with a yellow edge. ‘Minerva’ differs from ‘Red Tiger’ in having flowers that are bright yellow in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new Canna. The photographs were taken of a 1-year-old plant as grown in a greenhouse in a 2-gallon container in Bangkok, Thailand.

FIG. 1 provides a side view of a plant of ‘Red Tiger’ in bloom.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up top view of an inflorescence and the foliage of ‘Red Tiger’.

The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close-up side view of an inflorescence with flowers beginning to open.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with the photographic and printing technology utilized and the color values cited in the Detailed Botanical Description accurately describe the colors of the new Canna.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of one-year-old plants of the new cultivar as grown in 2-gallon containers under 6 mm poly and natural lighting in Louisville, Ky. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with The 2015 Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:     -   -   Blooming period.—Blooms during active growth in summer in             Louisville, Ky.         -   Plant type.—Deciduous, tropical, perennial often grown as an             annual in cold climates.         -   Plant habit.—Upright and compact.         -   Height and spread.—Mid-sized; reaches 65 to 70 cm in height             and about 30 cm in width as grown as a 1-year-old plant in a             2-gallon container. Reaches about 1 m in height when grown             in the landscape.         -   Hardiness.—U.S.D.A. Zones 8a to 12.         -   Heat tolerance.—Observed to by highly tolerant when grown             with sufficient soil moisture.         -   Diseases and pests.—No susceptibility to diseases or pests             has been observed.         -   Roots.—Fleshy.         -   Propagation type.—Rhizome division.         -   Growth rate.—Vigorous, numerous suckers produced, average of             30 per 5-gallon container.         -   Root development.—Roots develop in 10 days in a stage 3             rooting media, fully develop in a 1-inch liner in 42 days,             1-inch liner fully develops in a 6-inch pot in 6 to 8 weeks. -   Stem description:     -   -   Stem size.—An average of 38 cm in length and an average of 3             cm in width (with sheaths).         -   Stem type.—Stout, rounded, surrounded by sheathed leaf             petioles.         -   Stem color.—N144A.         -   Stem surface.—Smooth and glossy. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Leaf shape.—Broadly ovate.         -   Leaf division.—Simple.         -   Leaf base.—Cuneate.         -   Leaf apex.—Acuminate.         -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate, matching leaf color, middle raised             vein 145A in color.         -   Leaf margins.—Entire, slightly wavy.         -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate with petioles sheathed.         -   Leaf surface.—Glabrous on upper surface and lower surface             with a slight sheen on both surfaces on newer leaves.         -   Leaf orientation.—Emerge upright and become nearly             horizontal and slightly upright when mature.         -   Leaf color.—Young inner and outer surface; striped             variegation a blend of 144A and 145C, mature foliage upper             and lower surface; intensely variegated with thin stripes             pinnately radiating in numerous colors, brightly colored             stripes 150A (an average of 1 mm in width) are separated by             dark green stripes 137A (of various widths ranging from 1 to             5 mm).         -   Leaf size.—Average of 25 cm in length and 17 cm in width             when mature.         -   Leaf quantity.—An average of 8 per shoot.         -   Petioles.—About 15 cm in length, an average of 1 mm in             width, glabrous, smooth and slightly shiny, inner and outer             surface, sulcate and clasping to stem the entire length,             color inner surface; 145A, outer surface; a blend of 145C             and 144A. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Inflorescence type.—Terminal raceme that elongates as             individual flowers open; flowers with showy staminodes that             are arranged spirally along the rachis and open sequentially             during the bloom season.         -   Inflorescence size.—Average of 11 cm in length and 6 cm in             diameter (dependent on number of blooms open).         -   Flower buds.—Linear to slightly narrow oblanceolate in             shape, an average of 4.5 cm in length and 5 mm in width,             color; matches sepal color when petals are unexposed, with             petals slightly exposed 45B.         -   Flower fragrance.—None detected.         -   Lastingness of inflorescence.—Inflorescence blooms             continuously during the bloom period, individual flowers             last about 2 days.         -   Flower quantity.—Continuously produced throughout the bloom             season, one to three open at one time, an average of 50             flowers produced in a season.         -   Flower type.—Comprised of less showy sepals and petals and             showy staminodes.         -   Flower size.—Average of 9 cm in length, 6 cm in width.         -   Rachis.—Average of 15 cm in length and 5 mm in diameter,             146A flushed with 185A in color, glabrous surface, shape is             round and becoming flattened on one side near apex, an             average of 4 bracts; an average of 8 cm in length and 3 cm             in width, curled inward, glabrous on both surfaces, clasping             base, apex acuminate with small mucronate tip, 144A flushed             with 185A.         -   Sepals.—3, lanceolate in shape, truncate base, acuminate             apex, about 5 cm in length and 9 mm in width, both surfaces             glabrous and shiny, both surfaces 142A in color.         -   Petals.—3, lanceolate to slightly orbicular in shape,             truncate base, acute apex, about 6 cm in length and 2 mm in             width, young color both surfaces; 142A, maturing color             fading both surfaces; 1C and translucent, changing to fully             mature color both surfaces; 185A, both surfaces glabrous and             satiny, held mostly upright.         -   Pedicels.—Stout, 2 cm in length and 4 mm in width, glabrous             and shiny surface, 144B in color.         -   Staminodes.—Sterile; 4, size; an average of 9.9 cm in length             and 4.6 cm in width, obovate-elliptic in shape, apex round             to pointed, base cuneate to narrower base about 2 cm in             length and 1 cm in width with truncate base, margins             slightly crenate (irregular) and wavy, color upper and lower             surface; 45B in color, base spotted with 162C. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Gynoecium.—1 pistil, style is an average of 7.5 cm in length             and 1 cm in width, narrowly club shaped, truncate base,             margins smooth, color upper and lower surface; a blend 46B,             glossy on upper and lower surface, stigma surrounds apex, is             about 5 mm in length and 46B in color, ovary is inferior,             about 6 mm in length and 3 mm in width, and 146C in color.         -   Androecium.—1 stamen, about 3 cm in length, filament is             adnate to edge of staminode, 202A and 161C in color, about 3             cm in length, anthers are about 1.5 cm in length, slightly             curved, a blend of 46B and 161C in color and basifixed,             pollen is moderate in quantity and 11A in color.         -   Fruit and seed.—Fruit; globose, tri-rounded pod sections,             144A in color, spiky surface very densely covered with             single narrow, oblong, transparent fruits closest to 145A in             color, minute in size, about 0.5 mm in length, seed; an             average of 8 seeds per section, an average total of 24             total, round in shape, shiny and smooth surface, N199B. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Canna plant named ‘Red Tiger’ as herein illustrated and described. 